ABSTRACT
The performance of a direct contact latent heat storage unit, which consists of two columns with different hydrated salts, has been investigated. The partially cooled kerosene was then pumped to the second column containing the sodium carbonate solution, discharging most of its heat content. Flow direction was reversed during heat discharge. Hydrated salts are good candidates for storing heat at intermediate temperatures due to their high storage density and low cost compared to other phase change materials. However, all hydrated salts melt incongruently, which causes phase segregation during the repeated cycles of heat charge and discharge. To overcome this problem and, hence, allowing the storage unit to operate with larger temperature swings, the idea of using two separate columns containing two hydrated salts with different crystallization temperatures will be tested in this work. Measurements with the storage unit filled with water were used to confirm the accuracy of the experimental measurements of temperature and flow rate.
